hearing aid

American  

noun

1. a compact electronic amplifier worn to improve one's hearing, usually placed in or behind the ear.

---

hearing aid British  

noun

1. a device for assisting the hearing of partially deaf people, typically consisting of a small battery-powered electronic amplifier with microphone and earphone, worn by a deaf person in or behind the ear

---

Etymology

Origin of hearing aid

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

An upcoming Peppa Pig episode in which George gets a hearing aid could help to "remove some stigma" around hearing loss, the head teacher of a prominent school for deaf children said.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Barbabella described the president’s hearing as “normal” and said in a statement to the Journal that Trump doesn’t require a hearing aid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

It might seem like a sign that you need a hearing aid, but new research suggests the issue may be linked to how your brain processes sound rather than your ears.

From Science Daily • Oct. 29, 2025

Despite our many requests, the Florida Department of Corrections has not gotten him a hearing aid that doesn’t beep loudly in his ears, so he prefers to stay in his own, soundless world.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2025

This was like talking long distance to my grandmother without her hearing aid, and—just like my grandmother—Miss Kemp didn’t try to pin it down.

From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson